Sam Andrews of Southcote Primary School - what's it like being a Mastery Specialist
Currently I am in my 9th year of teaching. I am Year 5 Lead (we are 3 form entry so have Year leads rather than phase), class teacher and Maths lead.
I was at a point in my career when I wanted to do more and was interested in going down the teaching and learning route. I was Maths Lead and had been part of the TfM programme, Readiness and Developing, which inspired me to apply as I had got so much out of the programme and become passionate about Maths teaching and Teaching for Mastery.
It is the best CPD I have had in my career and it has really developed me as a practitioner and as a leader.
I am always still developing my practice but the main changes have been the way that I plan and teach in relation to Mastery and the 5 Big Ideas. I strongly believe that children need to be taught in a way that draws attention to structure through careful choices of representation and language. All children deserve to be taught Maths in a way that exposes them to greater depth of understanding and I feel this is becoming more reflected in my practice.
I already am, but I love leading groups and planning CPD. I also enjoy collaborating, reflecting together and the networking aspect of working with other schools. School visits are also so beneficial as you see other settings and can take a way a lot of ideas as well as support them with your experience. The visits really help develop your confidence too.
My school have been very supportive and it has led to more Maths CPD in school. I would also say that it contributed to my move into leadership as I has experience working with other teachers, leading CPD and going into other schools to support.
You are going to be a much more informed and developed practitioner and be able to identify the best course of development for Maths in your school so much better for being a Specialist.